Conn. casino in running for AAC conference tourney

HARTFORD, Conn. 
A tribal casino in Connecticut is bidding to host the men's and women's basketball tournaments for the new American Athletic Conference.

Chris Sienko, vice president for the Mohegan Sun, which includes a 9,500-seat arena that is home to the WNBA's Connecticut Sun, said the resort is interested in hosting one or both tournaments.

"We have no insight as to whether we'll be chosen or be a finalist," said Sienko, who also serves as general manager for the WNBA team. "We're just going through the same process that everyone else is going through to be vetted out by the AAC."

Conference officials confirm the venue is in the running, but said the sites for each tournament will be chosen separately by the presidents and athletic directors of the member schools, with input from coaches. The topic will be discussed at the upcoming conference meetings, which begin May 20.

The conference is also considering cities such as Louisville, Cincinnati, Memphis and Hartford to host the men's tournament. It is also looking at venues for the women's tournament in places such as central Florida. Hartford's XL Center, where the Big East has held its tournament since 2004, also remains in the mix, officials said.

"Due to the powerful fan base in Connecticut and the past success of our championship over the past 10 years in Connecticut, consideration of multiple venues in that state makes sense as we work to consider a group of venues across our footprint and secure our future direction," said Danielle Donehew, the Big East's associate commissioner for women's basketball who will continue with the AAC.

The decision comes at the same time the XL Center is changing management. Chris Lawrence, the building's new general manager, said they are also hopeful they can bring one or both tournaments to Hartford.

"It's something new for them and an opportunity for them to get out and see what else is out there, but we're going to go out and put our foot forward and see how things shake out," he said. "That track record of proven success here, I think speaks for itself. It's kind of up to us to make sure we're engaged with the league and in constant communication with them."

Big East spokesman Chuck Sullivan said the AAC hopes to make its decisions in the next 60 days.

The casino, which is owned by the Mohegan tribe, has made pitches in the past to host the Big East women's tournament. But the idea was rejected by presidents of several Catholic schools, who objected to playing at a gambling venue.

Those schools have split off to form their own conference, which is keeping the Big East name. Sienko said they are hopeful the current AAC institutions, which will include UConn, will be more receptive.

"With so many tournaments now being played in Las Vegas, we think that a lot of conferences are now understanding that you need to go someplace where it's more viable for your conference to showcase itself and what it has to offer," Sienko said.